Anchorage School District reduces 100 positions, saves more than $4 million through reorganization and attrition

Published: November 28, 2012

District reduces 100 positions, saves more than $4 million through reorganization and attrition
More than 25 percent of position reductions came from administration building

Superintendent Jim Browder announced a reorganization of the district's leadership today. The reorganization and position reductions created a multi-million dollar cost savings.

The reorganization incorporates many recommendations from the Council of the Great City Schools' organizational audit and takes a critical look at the district's existing structure in order to maximize efficiencies.

The new framework creates a cost savings of more than $4 million, mostly due to downsizing or eliminating positions that had become vacant since July, the beginning of the fiscal year.

Position reductions include teaching assistants, tutors and secretaries as well as professional staff including curriculum, financial staff and various director-level positions at the Education Center administration building. No direct instruction teaching staff has been eliminated or is anticipated to be laid off in the upcoming budget cycle.

"We will continue to look at every support position vacancy as we move forward," said Browder.

Further reductions throughout the remainder of the year are anticipated.

The reorganization and reductions come in preparation for the district's 2013-14 budget planning. The district is facing a $25 million shortfall next school year. The reorganization and reduction of support positions will help reduce that budget gap.

"We must continue making reductions. Flat and declining revenues going forward do not support our current staffing level," said Browder. "I believe reducing through attrition softens the blow as compared to issuing mass layoffs at the end of the year. We as a district must operate inside of the funds made available to us annually by the city, state and federal government."